I) Camp Organization

Camp Organization

It is a curious circumstance that the Japanese allowed the Camp to run itself. Government by an elected committee was therefore established; the committee became advisory when the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong arrived in the Camp and was recognized by the Japanese as Representative of Internees.

From the beginning the Camp established schools and its own hospital, which, with a minimum of help from the Japanese, rendered important service throughout the internment, saving many lives. A Nutrition Clinic did its best, with inadequate remedies, to cope with the diseases of malnutrition, which, in various forms, were endemic. Special reserves were set aside for infants, children and nursing mothers. It may be revealed now that various devices were resorted to – unknown to the Japanese – in order to obtain, and maintain, certain emergency supplies for these special classes. Fortunately the Hong Kong Government had purchased, prior to the war, some thousands of dollars worth of synthetic vitamin preparations, which were secretly brought into the Camp before the Japanese had thoroughly installed themselves in the Colony. A minute regular dose, administered to each individual over a long period, made good vitamin deficiencies, which must otherwise have produced a heavy mortality.

Not everyone in the Camp lived on the official rations. A minority, having business connections or friends in town received parcels of food which, during most of the time, the Japanese allowed in unhindered, though they expressed the opinion that the contents should be divided pro rata amongst all internees. Such interference with private gifts did not commend itself and would probably have discouraged the supply. Moreover pro rata distribution would have produced only a trifle per head.